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FITTING TRIBUTE TO MARCI PEREIRA

  Mombasa Goans School Project: a fitting tribute November 04, 2021   An Exceptional Couple in My Life ~ Benny and Celia Mascarenhas ~   (It is fitting that Marci Pereira has offered this historical piece for publication in memory of the late Benny Mascarenhas. Both Benny and his widow Cecilia were as much as an inspiration as well as an important driving force for the Mombasa Goan Schools Archival Project).   (By Marci Pereira ~ Project: ‘Archiving Memories of Mombasa Goan School) (e-mail:  mombasagoanschool@gmail.com   ~ 27 October 2021)    I am deeply saddened to learn that my friend, Benny Mascarenhas, a younger generation schoolmate, passed away on 24 September 2021.  Benny finished school in 1965 and was the founder and lead guitarist of the renowned Mombasa band:  The Shiftars  ~ which to this day, is fondly remembered by many former Mombasa Goans and others they entertained.  I left Keny...

25 dead in fire at popular Goa club

  Staff and tourists among 25 killed in Goa nightclub fire 28 minutes ago Share Save Vikas Pandey, Goa and Harry Sekulic BBC report: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cdj82d0nd4eo A fire at a popular nightclub in the coastal region of Goa in India has killed 25 people, according to local officials. Most of the victims are believed to be staff at the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub, located near a popular beach. Tourists are also said to be among the dead. Police believe a gas cylinder exploded in the club's kitchen, causing a blaze to rip through the venue on Saturday at midnight local time. On Sunday morning, officials said the death toll had risen from an earlier figure of 23. The BBC has spoken to witnesses at the scene who described scenes of panic in the bustling nightlife area. "The fire was mainly concentrated around the kitchen area on the ground floor," said Alok Kumar, Goa's Director General of Police. Most of the bodies were found near the kitch...

Dukota, By Savio Pereira (Painful)

 

Thanks my very special friend

 I received an early Christmas present from a very special friend of mine: Read your article in the Global Goan. Nice to reminisce the good old days. You certainly capturede everything that we were so fortunate to enjoy: food, music, venues but most of all friendships. Life was good then, unlike the anger, abuse and arrongance we sometimes encounter today. Hope you are keeping well. Wish you good health in the New Year. Merry Christmas my very special friend,

The Global Goan Christmas edition

 https://online.fliphtml5.com/kdhdu/ezsh/#p=1 (highlight and click) Dear Cyprian As 2025 draws to a close, we are pleased to bring you the last edition of The Global Goan magazine for the year. Click on the link to access your magazine and njoy the read. Also please remember to share this message to all your contacts. We have come a long way with your continued support to this venture and look forward to your staying with us on this journey. Personally, I am sure we have hit the ceiling mark because the last few editions have had a readship hovering  a little over a million in number. Can we make an effort to push this number higher? Surely, with your support we believe, we can. Of course, needless to say, we are grateful and pleased that so many folks enjoy the magazine. Salus Correia hails from Mombasa where the Goans enjoyed great history and a reputation that held them in great stead in all walks of East African life. Best wishes to you and your loved ones for blessings at...

Budding author Roxanne Harper's Kenya Goan connection!

In Kenya, she studied at Cavina (probably Parklands), a British-curriculum preparatory school rooted in Christian values for children aged two to 13. That is where Roxanne studied before going to the UK for further studies at Benenden School and Cambridge University. She is now a solicitor. So my dad was William Paes, and brother to Dr Charles Paes (formerly of Eastleigh), siblings to Sylvia, Olive, Tina and then through his father's second marriage to Virginia Paes, sibling to Jeanette, Maureen,  Verona and Lilian. Mrs Virginia Paes was avid badminton player along with her daughters. Neville, Terence and Kenneth are my brothers. They were all GI Nairobi members. Dr Charles built the squash court at the GI. My grandad on my mother's side, Dick Coelho was a staunch member and avid sportsman. (thanks Suzette Paes)

Another Goan author announces herself

  Hi everyone! I’m Roxy Harper and it’s an honour to have been asked to do a blog for  Write for Harlequin  to celebrate South Asian Heritage Month (SAHM). I feel very lucky to have come from a heritage that stretches across oceans—Portuguese Goan by descent, raised in Kenya and now living in England. But it’s the South Asian part of my identity that I wanted to write about here.  South Asia spans a wealth of countries made up of a myriad of languages, religions, histories, and migrations, and my Goan roots form part of that mosaic. Goa represents a cultural collision where East met West centuries ago and as such, it has a deliciously layered history: once a Portuguese colony, now a vibrant part of India, it carries a unique hybridity that’s both South Asian and Western. Indeed, it was not uncommon for Catholic prayers to be intermingled with the Konkani language, where spicy coconut Goan curries were cooked in buildings that resembled the Mediterranean villas. An ...

Rest in eternal peace Paul Francis!

  PAUL FRANCIS: THE FINAL FAREWELL! Mass 11 am Friday November 28, Our Lady Queen of Peace Greystaynes   Paul Francis passed away on November 18 2025. He is survived by his wife and children! Rest in eternal peace Paul Francis! Tributes to the late Paul Francis from some of his closest friends! I will never forget those meetings at his place when we were planning the St Pat’s Christmas dances in Sydney. Honestly, I don’t know how we managed to organise anything given the state of those gatherings… but they were the good times, full of laughter and camaraderie. Then there was the famous grand final win against Berala. We were all nervous, facing that big left arm quick, until Paul strode in and smashed a match-winning 80 runs to collect the Grand Final trophy! We reminded him of that story just last week, and he lit up with a big smile, as ill as he was. He was always proud of that innings. Paul’s sporting ability was quite remarkable. Back in Pakistan, he captained t...